Can law firms in SA, Africa survive?

“With the growing competitiveness between law firms, the need for firms to act quicker, smarter and more client-focused is essential in order to retain a firm's clients, intellectual property and, most pressingly, its staff,” says Vanessa Miller, Managing Director at VM Consulting.

VM Consulting has been assisting organisations in South Africa and Africa, including law firms and legal departments, for over 14 years in document management, knowledge management, business process management and case management solutions.

Miller adds: “Successful law firms are those that are able to effectively capture, re-use and retain their knowledge, proficiencies and expertise. The Internet has provided firms with access to the same external information and resources to aid their business and their clients. The real competitive advantage that any firm has now rests with its ability to capture and retain the knowledge and know-how that lawyers and professionals within the firm create, acquire and apply during the life cycle of a client's matter. The size of the firm is irrelevant, as knowledge and how one uses the knowledge is the essence of a legal practice.”

“With increasing numbers of lawyers and professionals moving between firms, capturing new knowledge is valuable, but protecting existing knowledge and know-how from walking out the door, through individuals taking material with them or as a consequence of losing lawyer expertise, is essential for the firm, and ensures they remain competitive in today's economy.”

Depending on the type of firm, knowledge can potentially involve a wide array of activities, some of which include:

* Matter centric document management
* Precedent libraries
* Legal research
* Business/competitive intelligence
* Mentoring
* E-discovery
* Training
* Embedding know-how and past experiences into processes

Miller concludes: “VM Consulting is focused on assisting our clients in identifying the best way to create, capture and retain knowledge and know-how within a firm, using a combination of technology and methodology.”